Audi A1 - more detail

The new Audi A1 will spawn a wide range of variants in 2010 / 2011

Audi has revealed that there will be Sportback, Cabriolet, Crossover and even an S1 version of the new A1.

As part of Audi’s quest to cover every conceivable niche imaginable, it has been trailing an A1 model for years. In 2007 we had the A1 Concept and at Paris last year we had the Audi A1 Sportback Concept.

We reported back in July that Audi were getting close to starting production of the first in the A1 family – the three-door hatchback – and we speculated on what else was to come in the range. Well it appears that speculation is over.

Car Magazine managed to corner Peter Schwarzenbauer – Audi’s sales and marketing boss – and asked him what else Audi had planned for the A1. And he was quite forthcoming – ‘Look at what we do with the A3 range – we could do something similar with the A1’. Which is probably as close as you’re going to get to having Audi’s plans spelled out.

Our speculation on an A1 Sportback was hardly stretching the imagination as the Paris Concept was exactly that. But it now seems likely we’ll get an S1, an A1 Convertible and probably – to be aimed at MINI’s Crossover – an Audi Q1.

Audi has already confirmed that A1 production will start in October/November. That will be the three door hatch, but expect the Sportback to start rolling out in the New Year, with previews of the A1 Cabriolet at Geneva next Spring. And don’t bet against an S1 or a Q1 turning up some time in 2010.